Shloka 42

एकार्णव-सृष्टिक्रमः, ब्रह्म-विष्णु-परस्परप्रवेशः, शिवस्य आगमनं च

Devanagari script

भाषसे पुरुषश्रेष्ठ किमर्थं ब्रूहि तत्त्वतः एवं ब्रुवाणं देवेशं लोकयात्रानुगं ततः

Transliteration

bhāṣase puruṣaśreṣṭha kimarthaṃ brūhi tattvataḥ evaṃ bruvāṇaṃ deveśaṃ lokayātrānugaṃ tataḥ

Translation

“众生之最胜者，你为何而言？请依真实、依本体（tattva）如实宣说。”他们如此对诸天之主——随顺诸界既定行程而行者——发问，继而继续探询。

Word by Word

• भाषसे (bhāṣase): you speak

• पुरुषश्रेष्ठ (puruṣaśreṣṭha): O best among persons/beings

• किमर्थम् (kimartham): for what purpose/why

• ब्रूहि (brūhi): tell (me/us)

• तत्त्वतः (tattvataḥ): in truth, according to reality/principle

• एवम् (evam): thus

• ब्रुवाणम् (bruvāṇam): speaking/addressing

• देवेशम् (deveśam): the Lord of the gods

• लोकयात्रानुगम् (lokayātrānugam): following the course/order of worldly existence

• ततः (tataḥ): then/thereupon

Speaker

Devas (addressing the Devesha within Suta’s narration)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It frames devotion as inquiry into Shiva’s true intention (tattvataḥ) and aligns worship with lokayātrā—the divinely sustained cosmic order that Linga-puja is meant to harmonize with.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva is implied as Devesha (Pati), whose speech and action are not arbitrary but grounded in tattva (ultimate principle) and expressed as guidance for the world’s lawful course (lokayātrā).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The practice is viveka-driven śravaṇa and praśna (disciplined questioning of the Guru/Deva) as a preliminary limb of Pāśupata-oriented understanding—seeking Shiva’s purpose before undertaking rite or yoga.